Moment of Musk Archives - Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast

The Autopodcast that can still have fun at Christmas Shows!

#ICYMI, here are our last few year’s worth. 

We hope everyone had a happy holiday season, and 2021 is treating you well. We hope to roll into the spring with even more new episodes, guests and automotive conversation for you all to enjoy. Maybe a few Chevy Berettas to laugh at, too.

Thanks to everyone who has signed up to support us on Patreon!  Your preshow for Episode 41 was extra fun, hope you enjoyed it!

Marvin sent us a great email and told us he is starting a DIY garage in North Carolina…  We are very curious about this and hope that we can get some more details on a future show.   The Honey Do Garage

Shanon works at a car dealership out east and wanted us to be a little more clear about the name of the website…  It’s Throwin’ Wrenches dot com…  No G’s here peeps!

Today, we’re rolling back the clock to 1993, when there were still such things as modestly-priced performance coupes. $20k could get you some spicy new wheels and leave enough left in your account for a Taco Bell Chalupa or two.

Out of these three cars, which one would you choose to #RaceDailyKill?  

DOHC 4-cylinder

DOHC V-6

DOHC N/A 4-cylinder

“In a harsh criticism of Tokyo prosecutors, human rights were violated during Carlos Ghosn’s 130-day detention in a Japanese jail says a U.N. panel. The ex-Nissan CEO was arrested in November 2018 in Tokyo for under-reporting his compensation to the tune of £80 million. He was later rearrested on related charges and then a third and fourth time on suspicion of using company assets improperly.”

In the meantime, former Nissan CEO Carlos Goshn has been shooting his mouth off at the Japanese while sitting in his Lebanon holdout, asking why they don’t come and question him.  (Remember Pearl Harbor Carlos?  Careful what you ask for!)  The French, on the other hand, are planning on a visit very soon!  Good luck with that!

Potential Rabbit hole material: Peter Lyons or Peter Lyon? 

What are the chances that two automotive writers share a common name?

Pete Lyons and Pete Lyon

Source: Automotive News

Kia has unveiled a new, more modern, script-like brand logo to replace its aged oval mark and help jumpstart the South Korean carmaker’s planned brand relaunch. As part of the makeover, Kia Motors Corp. has also adopted a new slogan: Movement that Inspires. The new emblem and catchphrase were both unveiled Wednesday during a pyrotechnical display in the skies above Incheon, South Korea, that used 303 drones launching fireworks.

Source: Rueters

Shareholders in Peugeot owner PSA gave the green light on Monday to the French company’s merger with Fiat Chrysler (FCA), one of the last steps towards creating the world’s fourth largest automaker. At a special shareholder meeting, the deal to form the new company called Stellantis was first backed by top investors with double voting rights, including the Peugeot family, China’s Dongfeng and the French state, via Bpifrance

Source: CNN Business

Battery electric vehicles accounted for more than half of all cars sold in Norway last year, putting the country way out in front in efforts to kill off the internal combustion engine. And Tesla (TSLA) lost its sales crown to the Volkswagen Group. Norway is using huge tax incentives to help ensure that every new passenger car and van sold in the country by the end of 2025 is a zero-emission vehicle. Record electric vehicle sales in 2020 means the country is now ahead of schedule, according to Oyvind Solberg Thorsen, CEO of the Norwegian Road Federation (OFV). The market share of electric cars in Norway increased to 54% in 2020 from 42% the previous year, according to data published by OFV on Tuesday. When hybrid vehicles are included, the share of electrified vehicles hit 83% last year. Petrol and diesel cars, which had a combined market share of 71% in 2015, now have just 17%

Source: The Hustle

According to a hip Email that Eric gets, The Hustle, there are a few reasons that Elon and Apple just don’t mix.

It’s actually a fun newsletter that comes out a few times a week. Of course, they are trying to sell you something, but who isn’t?  Did I mention the Scion I have for sale?

Subscribe here: https://thehustle.co/?ref=313c0d2cf9

Source: AdaptAutomotive.com

Dec. 31, 2020—California’s Department of Motor Vehicles has issued the state’s first autonomous vehicle deployment permit.  According to Palo Alto online, Nuro, a technology company, received the permit in order to operate autonomous vehicles to make grocery deliveries to the public.  Now that Nuro has acquired the permit, it can begin to profit off of its deliveries. 

Source: Car and Driver

The 2021 Ford Bronco off-road-focused SUV’s arrival is being delayed a few months due to coronavirus-related supplier delays, Ford confirmed to Car and Driver this afternoon. It was originally scheduled for a spring 2021 launch, but now the two- and four-door models won’t arrive until the end of the summer, and the Sasquatch version with the manual transmission will be even later. Ford did not disclose which suppliers are experiencing COVID-19-related issues. Orders were originally set to open on December 7 but are now delayed until mid-January.

Source: Car and Driver

Jeep is reportedly planning to expand further into the world of factory customs by opening a dedicated facility near where it builds the Wrangler and Gladiator in Toledo, Ohio. According to the Toledo Blade, Jeep will build a customization facility on a complex of properties formerly owned by Textileather and MedCorp, the most recent of which shut down in 2013. Fiat Chrysler is paying $1 for the site and plans to build a new 250,000-square-foot facility on it.

Source: The Detroit Bureau

Many new car dealers love the brands they sell. But few, if any, continue to sell the brand once it’s failed. That wasn’t true of Jack Carl Miller, who died Mon., Dec. 28, 2020, in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Miller was 82, and known for running the business his father started, Miller Motor Sales, long after the brand it sold, Hudson, had faded from the scene. Later on, he went on to establish the Orphan Car Show with Randy Mason.

Source: Transport Topics News Magazine

BTW…  TTNEW.com? Who knew that a publication devoted to tranportation topics existed?

0 to 60 in 2.1 seconds… Fastest production car in history…  And this news story is old…  That’s all you need to know!

Eric apologizes for not vetting his Elon intrigue a little harder.  It will not happen again!

In the meantime:  Are Tesla owners all “down” with Mel Brooks references and fart jokes?   We totally get it, but wonder if the folks in the black Northface coats drinking expensive Starbucks drinks know how to laugh at that kind of humor.  (The world needs more of it!)

14,919 with 75000 Kilometers on an importer site.  Carfromjapan.com 

We talked about the Toyota Century a few times off the air and Eric finally pulled the trigger (mentally) and found a sweet 2005 Toyota Century sitting in Japan just waiting to be imported to Baltimore in 6 months.  No worries, Eric will have this Japanese monster in his virtual garage in minutes.

Now the real question:  Can you drive this car without feeling like you’re the hired help?

From the Plymouth Owner’s Club on Facebook: 

I’m listing my 1939 Plymouth P8 Deluxe for sale for $6,500. I bought this recently and have done nothing to it. It had been garaged for 20 years. Engine turns freely but doesn’t run. I don’t have the time to work on this like I had expected. Located in Cleveland, Ohio.

Super easy fix or rebuild. This likely has sold already, but it would be a prime example of stuff that’s out there and just begging for someone to take it to the next level or put it back on the road. Look at this Art Deco masterpiece. Cheap for what it is… and would fill a nice void for a 30’s car in the Scott collection. 

The post Episode 41 – Nuro’s and Bronco’s oh my… appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.

Welcome to the auto podcast that gives you the best Christmas Episodes!

It’s okay to admit you loved last year’s Christmas episode. This year, we thought we’d put together another list of our ‘favorite things.’

And while you may not be able to drive to Grandma’s house this Christmas, you can still pretend we’re all driving the Dan Ryan, headed to a party in an old Chevy Astro van, all the while hoping the Christmas tree doesn’t fall off the roof. 

Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, we proudly present our Christmas gift to the world for 2020: The Throwin’ Wrenches Virtual Road Trip Soundtrack. 

Sure, it’s easy to come up with a few of our favorite road trip songs at the drop of a hat. But Eric suggested we dig a little deeper into the vinyl collection and purposefully select only driving songs.

What is a driving song?  It’s not just a song about a car (sons like The Dead Milkmen’s Bitchin

Camaro and Commander Cody’s Hot Rod Lincoln instantly come to mind. While those are great songs, they are not what we’d consider ‘sit back and cruise’ songs.

All of the songs we compiled for this episode are not only amazeballs, they also contain some reference to driving. With the abbreviated car show and event season, we both felt as though we needed more windshield time to crank the radio up and let the good times roll. As winter rolls in, consider this a reminder that the sunny days and good times are just around the corner. Turn up the bass, roll down the windows and rock these playlists at your leisure.

Oh, and one more thing…

Merry Christmas! 

You didn’t think we would forget our regular #MomentOfMusk segment just because this is a Christmas episode, did you? Of course, we wouldn’t! Did you know that according to Entrepreneur Magazine, the always-festive Elon Musk has a favorite music playlist? He allegedly whistles the following five tunes while shuffling about the office every so often. We riff on his musical tastes and try to explore what it says about the man, the myth, the legend.

*alleged

Thanks for listening, and we look forward to bringing you more new episodes in 2021.

All the best,

-Eric & Daryl

The post Christmas 2020 – Virtual Road Trip Soundtrack appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.

Welcome to the auto podcast that can appreciate a well-run amateur sporting organization.  That’s some love aimed directly at the Champaign County Sports Car Club.  We had hopes of getting with Dean Plumadore for Episode 40, but it didn’t work out for this time.  Nevertheless, we’ll be sure to wrangle Dean for a future show to hear all of the latest escapades. Meanwhile, you’re stuck with the two regulars. Enjoy!

This show is extra long to make up for the delay!

A big thanks and kudos to those of you who support the show on Patreon.  It means the world to us to have your support!  We are glad to share our amazing pre-shows with you!

Listener Mike says we need to “figure out a way to do remote interviews!”  We hear you, Mike. COVID is making that request a necessity!  

Eric’s TikTok handle is Planetstahl.  Daryl does not have a TikTok because he is an adult.

In this episode, Eric pulled out all the stops. After reminiscing about the short-lived popularity of the car-based pickup here in the United States, he wrangled up all of the options to create our first-ever 4-way deathmatch on Race Daily Kill.

While popular in Australia for many years as “utes” or utility vehicles, the wagon-based trucks briefly sold stateside and were often used by businesses for commercial delivery vehicles. Folks in the skilled trades used them for work trucks, even if they weren’t trucks. They were also popular among the mulleted folks who enjoyed rocking out to Molly Hatchet and jumping railroad tracks.

We start with the granddaddy of them all, the Ford Ranchero (introduced in 1957), then the Chevy El Camino (introduced in 1959), and then their much later pint-sized competitors the Subaru Brat (introduced in 1978) and Dodge Rampage (introduced in 1982).

Here are our picks for this killer lineup.

Race the El Camino. Daily the Ranchero. Kill the Subaru & Rampage.

Race the Subaru Brat. Daily the El Camino. Kill the Ranchero & Rampage.

Honda Looks to New Civic to Help Keep Its Edge in Smaller Sedan Market

Honda Motor Co. is trying to reinvigorate sales of one of its most recognizable nameplates, the Civic, as Americans’ interest in sedan cars wanes. The Japanese automaker on Tuesday night, via the Twitch streaming platform, gave buyers a first look at the next-generation Civic, a model that accounts for roughly one-quarter of Honda’s U.S. sales and that executives said is critical to attracting younger and more price-sensitive buyers to the brand. The company’s U.S. sales have slipped in recent years as car shoppers have flocked to bigger and pricier vehicles, moving away from the economical small cars like the Civic that helped turn Honda into a household name.  Source: The Wall Street Journal

EV-Wary Dealers Offered Upward of $500,000 to Drop Cadillac

Cadillac dealers who don’t see a place for themselves in the luxury brand’s all-electric future can walk away with more than half a million dollars instead. General Motors last week showed the breadth of its commitment to electric vehicles as the future of Cadillac and its other brands, boosting its EV and autonomy budget by 35 percent through 2025. Cadillac’s first full EV, the Lyriq, will launch in early 2022, nine months sooner than initially planned, and the brand expects to be selling only EVs by 2030, as long as GM feels the market is ready. Some dealers, on the other hand, aren’t ready to make that shift — or to spend at least $200,000 on the chargers, tooling and training that GM is requiring. They have until Nov. 30 to decide whether they’d rather just get out instead.   Source: Automotive News

Alliance Calls Mass. ‘Right to Repair’ Law Unconstitutional in Lawsuit

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation on Friday filed a federal lawsuit over a recently enacted ballot measure in Massachusetts that updates an existing state law, expanding access to data related to vehicle maintenance and repair. Starting with the 2022 model year, the updated “right to repair” law requires makers of vehicles sold in Massachusetts to equip vehicles that use telematics systems — which collect and wirelessly transmit mechanical data to a remote server — with a standardized, open-access data platform.

It also gives vehicle owners and independent repair shops access to real-time information from the telematics such as crash notifications, remote diagnostics and navigation. The law is scheduled to take effect Dec. 3. The alliance said automakers, which can begin selling 2022 model-year vehicles as early as Jan. 2, 2021, could face “impossible compliance obstacles.”   Source: Automotive News

Alliance Supports Calif. Incentive for New EVs

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation on Tuesday applauded a new incentive plan for EVs in California. The collaboration between the California Air Resources Board and the state’s electric utilities offers consumers up to $1,500 up front for the purchase or lease of eligible new battery-electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles from a participating auto retailer. The California Clean Fuel Reward program launched Tuesday and will help support Gov. Gavin Newsom’s ambitious move to stop the sale of new passenger cars and trucks with internal combustion engines by 2035. The plan aims to transition California away from fossil fuels and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the state’s air regulators said.   Source: Automotive News

Rivian Sells out… Of R1T’s that is

Rivian confirmed that it has already sold out the reservation slots for the first version of its electric pickup truck.  All without even giving the wider public access to the configurator.

Last week, Rivian unveiled its final pricing and configurations for the first version of the R1T and R1S.

The startup then opened up its configurator for people who have placed reservations with a $1,000 deposit on its vehicles over the last 2 years.

Despite this limitation, they have managed to sell out the ‘Launch Edition’ of their new electric vehicles within a week.

Source: Electrek

Our Take:  Is this the new business model of the future?  Amazon did it for years by losing money upfront until they conquered the whole market on EVERYTHING. Maybe if you can find enough folks willing to prepay for an electric truck, you can make a company that sells EV trucks?  Watch and learn Atlas and Nikola.

Our favorite dry German documentary director had some words for Elon and Space X this past week while thinking about humankinds inevitable expansion to the red planet.

https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-mars-city-werner-herzog-mistake-obscenity-2020-11

“I think Elon Musk stylizes himself as some sort of a technological visionary,” Werner Herzog told Inverse. “Because he has to sell his electric cars. Wonderful that he does that. He has to sell his reusable rockets. Wonderful that he’s doing it.”

But, he added, “I disagree with him when he postulates and preaches about colonizing Mars.”

Humans should “not be like the locusts,” Herzog said, but instead should “look to keep our planet inhabitable.”

Still, Herzog said he would “love to go [to Mars] with a camera with scientists.”

Eric’s Take: Is Business Insider even a business publication?  As I write this they have a whole section blogging on the best black Friday deals … LIVE!

The ‘collector’ car market is getting weird now. Super weird. Values are all over the place, and utilitarian cars that happen to be old are now being considered ‘collectors’ while actual collectible cars are undervalued. Meanwhile, look at the values of the old Jeep Grand Waggoneers, Squarebody pickups, old GM B-body wagons and even RamChargers. They’re everywhere in ads these days and people can’t get enough. I blame hipsters and marketing firms who use old station wagons and anything from our Gen-X childhood to sell us stuff. 

Examples

Bottom Line: Hipsters, please save some of the old cheap weird stuff for us! 

What is up with Bogus Facebook Marketplace sellers?

I thought it was harder to get a spam account on Facebook than Craigslist?  I guess those days, like commercial-free YouTube, are gone.  I have recently been bombarded by super-cheap used Toyota trucks and Airstream campers for the past month.  When you click the link to the “dealer” selling them in the Peoria area, you get a weirdly-named store, then the same item repeated over and over.   

Here is a classic example: A $1000 RAV4 pops up for sale in Pekin from an account titled “RAV4 SUV Dealership.”  See the pic…  RAV4Dealer is a new dealership in Peoria… Selling… RAV4s!  Well… Only one RAV4.  But they have a dealer page!

I ditched Craigslist because of its propensity for fake ads. Now it appears that Facebook has succumbed to the same creeps with too much time on their hands!

Zuk… If you can verify fake news articles about a scandalous presidential candidates first cousin’s watermelon seed spitting contest, how can you not see that “AIRSTREAM4U” with a $1200.00 mint condition Bambi trailer is not worth “flagging” for questionable validity?  Daryl and I can sit in a room looking at marketplace ads all day if thats what it takes!

Eric and Daryl love to cruise the cyber lots and kick the virtual tires… to the point that we can almost imagine a full ownership experience with our newly purchased (in our mind) auto, motorcycle or whatever.  It’s not until we show the item to our wives that we get that kick in the head of reality that shuts down the whole purchasing process!

We can share with you though, and you won’t judge us…  Will you?

1973 Triumph STAG for sale on Car Gurus 

Dealer’s Price:$24,999 Location: Nashville, TN

Mileage:42,333 miles  Transmission: Manual

I fell in love with this guy when I first glanced at those 4 round headlights…  beautiful.  

I already imagined owning this car and breaking it out on the summer weekends for a stroll up 116 along the river road.  T-Tops and chrome. Lovely!

Then I googled the car… and look at that… A V-8!  Then I accidentally hit the link for searching the Triumph V8.  Immediately, 3 articles “right off the bat” saying this engine was the worst thing Triumph ever built!

And just like that…  I went from buying a car as a virtual summer driver to parking it in the virtual museum,  only to be driven to virtual events in my mind (when it wasn’t being virtually repaired).  Ahhh, the virtual car collector blues!

1991 BMW 325 iX Coupe on Nitro Auto Deals

Price: $10,500

Mileage: Unknown

Made from 1986 to 1991, and sold here in the states from 88-91, the 325 iX is probably my favorite E30 because it’s all-wheel-drive, it’s over-engineered and even better… it has factory fender flares!

Capable in most of the bad weather, one of these with a 5 speed and a good set of snow tires should get you anywhere you need to go. This baby is finished in Alpine White (like my favorite Nestle candy bar) and has the great basketweave rims. I’d swap them for BBS’s and call it a day. A perfect winter beater with a heater!

The post Episode 40 – Car Trucks, Right to Fix and Herzog Speaks appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.

Thanks for tuning in to the Automotive Podcast that CAN actually sell a car!  Eric unloaded Red Mist last week, and now can boast that he has one less car than Daryl.  Baby steps, people!

We’ve got a lot of content packed into this latest show, and you won’t want to miss some of the local news updates. We also talk a fair amount about Knight Rider and why role-playing is kinda cool if your wardrobe ensemble happens to include a wicked cool 70s or 80s car.

Yes, you read that correctly. There’s a fresh new local venue and web domain for the Casey Law Office. More to come – Stay tuned for details!

We’d also like to give a big shoutout to our Patreon Subscribers. Patreon is an easy way to support the show and get access to the super cool Throwin’ Wrenches Pre Show. This episode rang in at a hefty 58 minutes. Lots of non-show content and a much longer conversation about the stolen 2020 GR Supra from Fort’s this past week.  You can join at any time and plans for the preshow start at $5/mo.

Many of you have followed along as Eric brought us live updates on the Fort’s Toyota 2020 GR Supra race car which was stolen earlier in October and thankfully recovered by the Peoria Police Department.

The case is still ongoing, but what we’ve learned is this: Not all auto thefts are carried out by an international crime syndicate with a network of high-tech gear and access to chop shops. Sometimes they are (allegedly) carried out by young kids with nothing better to do.

Thanks to Central Illinois Cars & Coffee and everyone in the local and regional automotive community for sharing this story on social media when it broke, and to the Peoria Police Department for recovering both the GR Supra and the 2020 Toyota Tundra CrewMax that was stolen in the same incident. Both are back safely in their rightful home.

Eric lined up this week’s picks for our Race, Daily, Kill segment… and it’s another epic field of automotive talent. If this is your first time, this show segment is where we select three cars or trucks and then pluck out one we’d race, one we’d drive daily, and one that we would take out back and kill.

First, let’s set the stage. 

The Year… is 1984.

Denim and leather jackets were in. Van Halen blasted on every radio station across the nation. Aqua Net hairspray depleted much of the ozone layer, which helped everyone tan better. Pizza Hut was actually edible.

Meanwhile, most of the new cars were choked by early emissions equipment. The Big Three’s offerings were mostly stale, but a single black Trans Am ruled the high-tech automotive world thanks to its computer control center, turbo boost and voice command system. Alexa, who? This is 1984, son!!!

Of course, we’re talking about the sleek Pontiac Trans Am, K.I.T.T. (aka Knight Industries Two Thousand).

Ladies and Gentlemen, we proudly present this week’s lineup.

Verdicts

Eric: Race the SVO. Daily the T/A. Kill the Jaguar. Maintenance alone would kill any fun that V-12 had to offer.

Daryl: Race the SVO. Daily the Jaguar. Kill the T/A. Turbo 2.3’s are fun, and Jags are classy even on a flatbed trailer.

As always, we’d love to hear your picks this time around. Feel free to play along on Facebook or hit us up at [email protected].

While researching cars for our Race, Daily, Kill segment, Eric spent a few days/weeks/months on the interwebz discovering just how many Ford models shared the same platform as the Fox body Mustangs, similar to our SVO this week. Not only did Ford use the Fox platform for the Mustang from 1979 to 1993, it also used the same underpinnings to roll out dozens of other models in that time frame.

Some of these include:

That’s what we call getting your money’s worth out of your engineering team. We discuss the history of the Fox cars and link them all the way back to the “Father of the Mustang”, none other than Lee Iacocca himself.

Maybach or May-Blah? You Decide!

Mercedes will have a shiny new bauble for America’s 1-percenters to park in their driveways for Christmas — a Mercedes Maybach SUV. In early December, Mercedes-Benz will enter the rarefied world of ultraluxe SUVs with the most expensive passenger vehicle made in America. The 2021 Maybach GLS 600 4MATIC starts at $161,550, including shipping. Fully loaded, the SUV tops out at nearly $200,000.

Source: Automotive News

Eric’s Take: Perhaps it’s time to admit that a luxury SUV by any brand (even Lamborghini, Rolls or Mercedes-Benze) will always look terrible? Give it up!

GM Debuts Electric Hummer Pickup With $80,000 Starting Price

General Motors Co. showed its much-anticipated battery-powered Hummer pickup in an online video, spearheading the automaker’s renewed push into the electric-vehicle market. The 2022 model-year truck will have a starting price of $80,000 and a range of 350 miles when fully charged. GM will sell it at GMC brand dealerships once production starts in the fall of 2021, the automaker said late Tuesday. The GMC Hummer’s driving range is about the same as Tesla Inc.’s Model 3, and the truck’s zero-to-60 miles per hour acceleration in three seconds is equivalent to a gasoline-powered sports car. With the new truck, GM is seeking to retain its traditional strength in pickups.

Source: Bloomberg

Shaken Up By Trump, Auto Lobby Eyes Impact of Biden Presidency

A Biden administration would be likely to restore aggressive Obama-era emission targets that Trump has tried to roll back. In addition, the former vice president would likely put more of Washington’s focus on electric and autonomous cars going forward to ensure American autoworkers build “the vehicle of the future.” An extension of the $7,500 per EV tax credit is more likely if Biden becomes president, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. Conversely, four more years of Trump would see a continuation of efforts to rollback auto mileage standards and revoke California’s power to issue its own standards. As much as anything, the carmakers say they want certainty on matters such as trade and mileage rules.

Source: Bloomberg

It’s Not DiGiorno: Most Recent Car Buyers Now Want Home Delivery

Real-time messaging and chat functionality, virtual vehicle walk-arounds and test drives with video, and completing financing and trade-ins online. Those are some of the new methods consumers are using to purchase their new or used cars from local dealerships. Consumers have turned to personal car ownership as their “preferred and safe mode of transportation” at the start of the pandemic and far beyond, Cars.com chief executive officer Alex Vetter said in a news release.

Source: Auto Remarketing

Ford Motor Co. warned Monday that certain 2019-2020 Ford Transit Connect vans have an engine flaw that could create fire risk while certain 2020 Ford Escape SUVs have tire pressure monitoring flaws that could lead to loss of control. Both vehicles are the subject of recalls, along with the high-performance of the Mustang Shelby GT350 and Mustang Shelby GT500 for its light system. The company said it is unaware of any accident or injury related to these situations.

Source: Detroit Free Press

Amazon Shows Off New 100% Electric Rivian Delivery Vehicle

Amazon and Rivian have pulled the sheet off the first four-wheeled product of their new sustainability venture. This custom, all-electric delivery van is the first of many Amazon plans to introduce to its fleet in the coming years.

The van itself is fairly barebones and practical, as you’d expect from a delivery vehicle. While Amazon and Rivian remain tight-lipped regarding the van’s exact specifications, they say it will offer 150 miles of total range (which would be class-leading). Rivian will announce its battery supplier for the project later in 2020.

“The vehicle we’ve developed with Amazon is not just electric. We prioritized safety and functionality to create a vehicle that’s optimized for package delivery,” said RJ Scaringe, Rivian CEO. “We thought through how drivers get in and out of the van, what the workspace feels like and what the work flow is for delivering packages.”

While Amazon is heavily invested in the electric startup, that is not the only avenue it has explored. While the size of the order may pale in comparison, Daimler is slated to provide 1,800 electric Mercedes-Benz delivery vans to Amazon’s European operations.

Source:  Autoblog

“The acid test, really, is, if the ships from Earth stop coming from any reason, does Mars die out?” Musk told interviewer Robert Zubrin during the live-streamed event. “For any reason. It could be banal, or it could be nuclear armageddon,” he added.

Let’s unpack some of the questions this open-ended comment raises. First, Musk recently also said that he expects many Mars settlers will die during the process of traveling to and settling on Mars in the longer term. That’s a common theme, from imperialist settlements like Jamestown or Roanoke to the explorers who first crossed Antarctica or sailed across the Pacific Ocean.

Source: Popular Science

Daryl thinks the day of the alloy wheel has run its course. They scuff, they suck to clean and they are expensive. Most aren’t even lighter than steel rims, which was the point of having them in the first place.

Can’t we just go back to steel wheels and dog dish caps? Land Rover is on their new Defenders… and so does Ford on the new Bronco and they look pretty slick. Need a change of attitude? Paint your wheels. Done.

Source: Craigslist

Eric’s occasional taste for the exotic brought him to the greater St. Louis area this week for a butterscotch-flavored Brit. Check out this elegantly-written description of the lovely Lotus, and tell us if this car isn’t a well-loved machine:

It has the original 1565 CC Renault 4 cyl engine. The engine head was obtained from an early Lotus 46, it has larger intake valves, siamessed ports, and has had .030 inches machined from the face; this gives a compression ratio of 12:1. It has a Weber 45 DC0E13 carburetor and equal length headers, this produces about 120 bhp at 6500 rpms. It has a four speed manual trans with new linkage. It has new brakes, new master cylinder, new rear wheel cylinders, the front calipers are rebuilt, and it has new rubber brake lines. It has a new water pump, the radiator has been recored, new radiator hoses, new thermostat, and new coolant. It has a new alternator and a new battery. It has a new breather and it has had a fresh oil and trans oil change. It has five original steel wheels and four original Lotus mag wheels. The windshield is in very good condition. It runs and shifts fine. This ol’ girl gets up and goes! The car does need cosmetic work inside and out but it is very solid. For more information call Keith

Could you see Eric buzzing around a road course in this low-slung Europa? Perhaps it should / could find a new home in the cozy confines of the Stahl ranch now that Red Mist has been sold.

Just a thought.

Source: Sullivan Auctions

Daryl says this base-model ’64 Chevy is just like my first love… his high school car. He owned one from 1995 to 1997 and he will always have a soft spot for these Giant rectangles with room for 9 people. Built with an X-frame, they are solid and sturdy sedans and hold up to the elements fairly well.

This low-mileage example from Missouri is equipped with a 230 six and a Powerglide trans would run forever and deliver decent mileage in the upper teens or low 20s. He’d rock this in a heartbeat for under $5K, but it doesn’t make sense to bring home another car right now. He needs to follow Eric’s example and release one back into the wild.

Keep in touch with us in between episodes at [email protected].

The post Episode 39 – Stolen Supras, Cosplay and a Fox Body Education appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.

Welcome back to the auto podcast that can’t seem to find a good reason for you all to re-share!

Guilt-trips aside, we love the fact that you’re here with us, week after week. We also love bringing you automotive news, project updates, and hearing from folks like you.

Speaking of hearing from you, we’d like to congratulate longtime listener Don S for winning our recent book giveaway. Don snagged a copy of A Trucker’s Tale: Wit, Wisdom, and True Stories from 60 Years on the Road by Ed Miller for sharing a post about Throwin’ Wrenches Podcast on Facebook. Mad props, Don. Mad props. 

If anyone is interested in a great collection of stories about life as a long-haul truck driver in the era before GPS, electronic logging and creature comforts like air conditioning, grab a copy of Ed’s book on Amazon. It’s also available as an audiobook if that’s more your speed. Either way, it’s a great read and we hope you enjoy it.

Thanks to Apollo Publishers for the generous giveaway offer!

Thanks to everyone who has signed up to be a Patreon supporter of our show. We were able to scrape a few schekels together to spring for a shiny new SSL certificate to keep our website secure. In all seriousness, your contribution helps us do all this behind-the-scenes stuff to put out a show we’re proud of and you (hopefully) enjoy. Thank you.

Jameson Elder of Neosho, Missouri tells us he listens to our podcast nearly every night at work and he loves the Moment of Musk. He also says to keep up the great work. Thanks so much for listening, Jameson! We’re glad you’re enjoying the show!

We also heard from a listener, Ryan, who ranked his Race, Daily, Kill choices from Episode 36, which included a Fiero, an RX-7 and a Honda CRX. More in our latest episode.

Eric recaps his latest trip to Nashville with his beloved Treehugger, a 2010 Toyota 4Runner with 200k well-traveled miles. What does the future hold for this soon-t0-be-retired trail rig? You’ll be happy to know there’s a Treehugger 2.0 in the works!

Also, ERIC BOUGHT ANOTHER CAR. That brings the total number in his fleet to 9. We’ll also give you a few guesses as to what kind of car it is. Here’s a hint: It’s a 1990 Toyota Supra with the awesome targa roof.

Daryl recalls his latest hunt for rusty parts for his 1958 Plymouth project. “Operation Iowa” was successful, and he didn’t get murdered. He also tried out a new buffer and brought some life back into the finish of his wife’s 2007 Toyota Solara convertible without burning a hole into the finish… so that’s what we call a “success story”.

Race the Dodge. Daily the Chevy. Kill the VW.

Race the Dodge. Daily the Chevy and Kill the VW.

For once, they agree! 

Ford Commits $1.5 Billion to Build EVs in Canada

Ford Motor Co. has reached a tentative labor deal with its 5,400 unionized employees in Canada, in a settlement that also secures a nearly $1.5 billion investment in two plants and a commitment to build electric cars in suburban Toronto. The decision from the Dearborn, Mich.-based automaker represents a shot of confidence for Canada’s auto sector. Factories in the country produce roughly two million vehicles annually, but that is down 25% from 2000 as car makers invested in lower-cost regions such as Mexico and the U.S. Sunbelt.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

VW to Offer Unlimited Charging for 3 years on New EVs. 

Volkswagen AG will provide owners of its ID.4 compact electric sport utility vehicle with three years of unlimited charging in the United States at no additional cost to the vehicle’s price, the German automaker said on Monday. Volkswagen said customers, who lease or purchase the electric SUV that was launched last month, can access the company’s unit Electrify America’s U.S. network of more than 470 charging stations and over 2,000 fast chargers.

Source: Reuters

GM: We’re Okay Not Being the Biggest

Nearly a decade ago, Toyota Motor Corp. dethroned General Motors Co. as the world’s largest car company, leaving some GM executives wringing their hands. Mary Barra wasn’t among them. When she took the CEO job in early 2014, she inherited a company that for decades was so large and unwieldy executives sometimes didn’t know whether parts of the business were making or losing money. On a visit to GM’s unprofitable operations in Thailand that year, she signaled a readiness to curb the company’s fixation on size. She criticized her Asian executive team’s five year-plan to introduce several new models, according to people who attended.

Source: The Wall Street Journal

Hyundai Wants to Restart Facility Upgrades; Dealers Wary

Hyundai and Genesis are resuming their dealership upgrade programs after halting them six months ago when the coronavirus pandemic disrupted the U.S. auto market. And some dealers are pushing back. Retailers say economic conditions remain uncertain in the U.S. and car buyers are increasingly moving online, especially under the shadow of the pandemic, making major investments in physical stores less appealing. But executives at Hyundai Motor America say they feel the company’s retail sales have rebounded from the coronavirus crisis thanks to aggressive factory promotions and hard work by dealers. And now is the time to move forward.

Source: Automotive News

EV Upgrades May be Final Straw for Some Cadillac Dealers

The dawning electric-vehicle era is likely to mark the end of the road for some low-volume, rural Cadillac dealerships. The luxury brand is requiring U.S. dealers who want to keep their franchises after 2022 to spend at least $200,000 installing chargers, buying special tooling and training employees to handle a lineup that’s planned to be fully electric within a decade. Cadillac officials and top dealers believe that’s a worthwhile investment to give customers a first-class experience, but they acknowledge it could be too much for retailers that don’t have enough volume to recoup those costs in a reasonable period of time.

Source: Automotive News

Kansas City Auto Show Bans Tesla

Since Tesla sells directly to customers, it was excluded from the Kansas City Auto Show, reported CleanTechnica.

The Automobile Dealers Association of Greater Kansas City puts on the auto show. According to the report, a sales and service agreement with an automaker is criteria to join the association. Tesla’s business model lacks franchised dealerships.

However, local Tesla owners and enthusiasts set up outside the auto show. The Tesla Owners Club gave test rides of their cars.

Source: Clean Technica

Michigan auto dealers are trying to block startup electric carmakers including Rivian Automotive Inc. and Lucid Motors Inc. from following in Tesla Inc.’s footsteps by selling vehicles directly to consumers and servicing them in the state. A bill introduced in the Michigan legislature last week would block any manufacturer other than Tesla from selling cars to customers without a dealer as an intermediary and from owning and operating service and repair facilities. It could come up for a vote as soon as Tuesday, according to a Rivian official.

Source: Bloomberg

Eric discovers a story about the recent shake-up at EV manufacturer Nikola Motors and some stock squabbles, and decided to do a little investigative journalism. We also call this “stalking”. In true #RabbitHole fashion, he dives into allegations of nepotism, short-selling, and a lot of other fun stuff. After a $2 billion infusion from General Motors, will this startup ever really materialize, or is this all just a big waste?

Who wants to place bets that Nikola won’t be around in a few years?

This week, Eric sets his laser beams on SuperCar Blondie, the Gucci ballcap and silver leather pant-wearing YouTube sensation that has an audience of zillions, yet somehow manages to get under Eric’s skin. He lays out the reasons why she needs to dial it back a notch.

He also talks about one of the most disgusting cars he’s had to service in recent years. Seriously, when will people stop being so gross?

Meanwhile, Daryl gets all torqued off over how city folks are driving on two-lane country highways on their way to pick apples. It seems a lot of folks don’t know how to properly pass on these roads anymore and could make a deadly mistake. Are Honeycrisps and fresh apple cider really worth dying for?

Source: Segway

Eric goes for another e-bike, only this time it’s built by Segway and features a 76 mile range,  40 mph top speed, and would be a perfect off-road toy.

Enjoy unforgettable off-road adventures with the Segway Dirt eBike X160. Riding this high-performance electric dirt bike is pure joy. Weighing only 105.8 lbs the bike is super lightweight and easy to maneuver, whether you are an experienced rider or a complete beginner. However, the best part about this dirt bike is its electric motor which provides an absolutely crazy acceleration of 184.3 FT-LBS! In only 4 seconds this beast will sprint from 0 to 31 mph making even experienced riders smile.

Source: Checker Motor Cars

This final model-year Checker was originally ordered as a cab by Black & White Taxi in Little Rock, Arkansas but was never put into service. The owners drove it as their personal transportation. Featuring an underpowered, wheezy, carbureted GM 3.8 V6 and slushbox automatic, this iconic sedan would get respectable mileage and is easy to maintain with a stockpile of NOS parts thanks to Checker’s long run as America’s taxicab from 1961 to 1982. I’ve always loved these and someday will own one. It’s nice to see this one survived without being abused in daily service on the streets. Prices for these goofy things are getting steep for a good-running original.

Feel free to keep in touch at [email protected].

The post Episode 38 – 18 Cars Between Us appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.

Throwin’ Wrenches – 37

The Autopodcast that …  can switch from Evil Knievel to Betsy Ross quicker than you say Joe Rogan’s mushroom coffee

Thanks to our Sponsors: 

A Truckers Tale by Ed Miller.  Apollo Publishers sent us a copy of Ed’s book.  We are happy to talk about it and send a copy to a loyal listener.  All you have to do is share our Facebook post onto your page to be entered.  (Must be a public share!!!)

Buy it here on Amazon

Fort’s Toyota of Pekin.  www.toyota-pekin.com  

CASEY LAW Office.  CLOpeoria.com 

A big shout-out to our PATREON subscribers- Thanks to everyone who has signed up!  You got a big bonus episode this month!  Join here!

Thanks for listening.  Even you folks who emailed in and said you have gone back and listened from episode one on…  God help you!  

Eric talks about hitting the sand dunes with the Fort’s Trail Team.  He also had a chance to get some staff out to Autocross a few weeks ago at Champaign County Sports Car Club.  

Photos from Eric’s last adventure can be seen here

Daryl, He’s doing some house work… And planning a big solo trip to Iowa to get some interior trim for his Project Plymouth.  Also, he’s got the ‘55’s brakes dialed in and put some miles on it.   Cars and Coffee… And Delavan car show ready?

Summer is coming to an end…  What have you been working on?

Race Daily Kill

The year is 1985…  Select from this page:  

https://blog.consumerguide.com/consumer-guide-tests-affordable-sporty-coupes-1985/

According to Adaptive Automotive…  We have pricing and details on the all electric “bus” that is driving the kids nuts!  Can Tesla compete with this???

Aug. 26, 2020—Volkswagen is crafting a vehicle that is both nostalgic and retro. The Volkswagen I.D. Buzz is reminiscent of VW vans in the 70s, but will be the brand’s first all-electric microbus. The microbus is said to have a driving range of 270 to 373 miles. 

The I.D. Buzz is among the latest autonomous models that Volkswagen has invested in, in an effort to keep pace with the evolving industry and environmental concerns. According to CleanTechnica, Volkswagen board member, Josef Baumert, says “With the current measures we are systematically further implementing our strategy of automating and digitizing production.” 

The I.D. Buzz is rumored to cost around $40,000 and will enter production in 2022 to meet its 2023 release date. 

According to the Detroit Free Press, People are taking solitude in their vehicles.

Since the proliferation of the coronavirus pandemic, cars are taking on even more functions, proving they’re not just for transporting people from point A to point B. Two separate surveys showed that many people are increasingly using their cars to get away from the people they live with, get a change of scenery, take a nap, make a personal or business call, get some “me” time or just to feel normal again. 

Can read between the lines at BMW?  Talk about a rough year!  Where does the industry go with sales reports like this? Source,  Automotive News

BMW will make work force cuts in the U.S. to adjust for a business slowdown in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. A spokesman declined to disclose the number of jobs being axed but noted the cuts do not affect the automaker’s large assembly plant in Spartanburg, S.C. BMW sales in the first half of the year tumbled 28 percent, with second-quarter sales down nearly 40 percent from a year earlier, as many dealerships were forced into a COVID-19 lockdown in the spring.

Rivian is stealing talent from TESLA?  Say its not so RJ!  On the flip side…  We think this is awesome…  It means they may actually be building cars in Normal Illinois after-all! 

From CARBUZ.com

 BY JAY TRAUGOTT 

It was last month when Tesla filed a lawsuit against rival electric vehicle automaker Rivian over allegations the latter stole employees as well as sensitive trade secrets. Rivian, as expected, quickly denied the accusations and filed a request to dismiss the suit in the California Superior Court. Rivian stated Tesla’s accusations were not only flat-out wrong but are really nothing more than an attempt to harm its industry reputation and to make recruitment all the more difficult. Tesla even sued four of now-former employees after they joined Rivian.

Rivian maintains all employees are required never to “introduce former employers’ intellectual property into [its] systems.” The lawsuit’s status has yet to be decided, but now there’s another reason for Tesla to be annoyed at Rivian.

According to Bloomberg, Rivian has just hired Nick Kalayjian, an 11-year Tesla veteran who served as vice president of engineering for nearly three years.

Elon got really rich last week… That is all!

Daryl: Tired of hearing commercials lobbying for electric cars.   Normal Now Campaign:https://normalnow.com/

Eric:  I was on a quest for the cheapest Ferrari near me… Why?  Not sure.  I was noodling for the cheapest Supra… But tht turned into a mess of old vs new and so many aftermarket bits and odd paint jobs that I had to walk away! 

How about a $29000 1982 Ferrari Mondial with 22000 miles on it.  In British Racing Green????

Its in Rockford.  Its got 4 seats and actually looks great.

“Low mileage Ferrari mechanically identical to the more familiar 308 GTSI except with a back seat.  The family Ferrari.  V8 with 5-speed manual with traditional gated shifter. Updated with Ferrari 360 wheels and radio.Unusual but beautiful color of British Racing Green (not original but well done). Chance to own a real Ferrari for less than some kit cars. Must see”

Then I found a 1985 Modial with 33000 miles for 31000 in St. Joseph MO.  I’ll take the red… Sorry repaint Ferrari dude!

Daryl –

1961 Lincoln Continental

$39,995

I don’t know why, but I have been looking at old 4 door Lincoln Continentals lately, and it got me thinking about how pure (but not well-liked) the first model year ‘61 cars were. They were quickly restyled but I don’t know why. The ‘61 grille is the best one, and the rear tail treatment is perfect. Giant 430 V8 and a tiny 2 bbl, and acres of room inside for anyone you want to carry in style. 5,000 pounds of iron… so it’s really only $1.99 a pound.

https://classics.autotrader.com/classic-cars/1961/lincoln/continental/101076621

Thanks for listening!!!!

The post Episode 37 – Upholstery Road Trips and Dune Buggies appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.

Greetings from Throwin’ Wrenches Studio A, where this week we’re calling ourselves the auto podcast that doesn’t stay parked for too long. 

Eric and Daryl have been enjoying some late summer outdoor time and we have tons to talk about! We’re also hoping that everyone is taking care and enjoying what’s left of the summer season. 

If you aren’t a Patreon supporter, then you missed an exclusive 49-minute pre-show recording that talks about Eric’s stinky feet.  (True story) Does that help make the sale? Patreon supporters help make this great programming possible and we promise to only mention trench foot a few times a year. As the old Bartles & Jaymes ads used to say: “Thank you for your support.”

No, you didn’t wander into the Hair Club for Men podcast, but we did begin this week by straying into the land of facial hair, including an assessment of our favorite lawyer’s recent look.  Unfortunately or fortunately (your choice) – it turns into a whole male grooming segment! Mustaches are making a comeback, just you wait and see!

Later, we discover that George Hamilton and Daryl have a lot in common, apparently? #ExtraCrispy

Listener and fellow podcaster Mark Narx gave our show some props and we wanted to say thanks for the kind words, Mark.  Mark runs Narxoleptic Customs in Arkansas and specializes in cool old stuff and modern LS Swaps. He recently finished an LS swap in a Jeep Grand Waggoneer. You can check out his work on Instagram @narxolepticcusoms. Thanks, Mark!

Eric fills us in on his recent trip to Moab, Utah and Ouray, Colorado. Of course he hit some great trails with a perfectly-prepared supercharged Toyota Tacoma, which you see by following Fort’s Trail Team on Facebook. Eric also said the towns out west were packed with tourists, whom the locals were likely eager to see head back home.

If that wasn’t enough to keep him busy, right after he arrived back in the Midwest, Eric and family headed to Wisconsin to participate in the Badger Burrow Rallye. Who do you think had the better time, Eric or his daughter? 

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Daryl celebrated a few small, quick wins on his wife’s recently-purchased 2007 Toyota Solara convertible. The car came along at the right time, so the droptop is now part of the trio of Toyotas in the Scott household.

He’s been working on cosmetic improvements, such as touch-up paint and buffing some older bodywork that isn’t perfect. He also ordered a TON of brake parts to do a major overhaul so the car can stop safely. Speaking of brakes, he’s also doing more brake work on the two oldest cars in the fleet, the ’47 Chevy and ’55 Plymouth. 

Our newest segment #RaceDailyKill is back with three fresh choices of vehicles to categorize by the three magical categories. Pick one to race, pick one car to drive daily, and one to kill without mercy. This week’s challengers (pun intended) are below.

2020

Dodge Challenger

SXT Coupe 

3.6 292hp V6 / 8 speed (auto)

MSRP: $28,095 

2020

Chevrolet Camaro

1LS Coupe

2.0 275hp 4 / 6 speed

MSRP: $25,000

2020

Ford Mustang 

Ecoboost Fastback

2.0 300hp 4 / 6-speed 

MSRP: $26,670

Sound Off: What’s your Race, Daily, Kill pick with this chosen lineup? Are we off-base? Show us the error of our ways at [email protected]

GM and FCA are in a turf war!  

GM alleges that FCA paid off the local union bosses to get big pay raises for their works at GM plants… Thus making it harder to compete with FCA in manufacturing.

This sounds like some serious mafia stuff going on!  But it also sounds like a plot that would take eons to have an effect!  Talk about glacial pace.  We compare it to an idiotic Dr. Evil plot to take over the world… The hard way!

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is calling bribery allegations by General Motors “preposterous” and from a “third-rate spy movie.”. GM, in a motion last week, alleged that Fiat Chrysler used foreign bank accounts to bribe union officials so they would stick GM with higher labor costs.

Fiat Chrysler has called allegations it planted a spy on General Motors’ board “despicable” and accused its rival of running “a smear campaign”, in the latest twist in a bitter legal battle between the two carmakers. Last November, GM accused FCA of causing it harm by paying bribes to union officials that corrupted pay negotiations and resulted in it having to pay higher wages. Judge Paul Borman dismissed GM’s case in July. Last week, GM claimed to have uncovered fresh details about FCA, including that a union member on GM’s board was a “paid mole” for FCA, and that the company used a network of offshore accounts to hide bribes paid to unions. FCA stringently denied the claims in its rebuttal filed on Monday. “GM must know that the prospect of the court changing its mind . . . is slim to none, so this motion is apparently a vehicle for GM to make more defamatory and baseless accusations about a competitor that is winning in the marketplace,” it said. The allegations “reads like a script from a third-rate spy movie” and “would make John le Carré cringe,” it added, saying that GM “is engaged in a smear campaign”.

Sources: Financial Times & Detroit Free Press

Where in the World is Carlos Goshn? 

The father and son accused of helping former Nissan Motor Co. chairman Carlos Ghosn escape house arrest in Tokyo were denied bail for a third time as they battle an extradition request from Japan.

A federal judge in Massachusetts ruled this month that the ex-Green Beret Michael Taylor and his son Peter must remain in custody outside Boston while another judge weighs whether they are eligible for extradition under the U.S. treaty with Japan.

“While the Taylors may well seek to remain in the United States to fight extradition,” Talwani wrote, they “have not established sufficiently that if they find their extradition fight difficult, they will not flaunt the rules of release on bail and flee the country.”

Source: Japan Times

Chevy Trailblazer Small SUV Scores a Hit as Fastest-Selling New Vehicle in US

Chevy’s affordable Trailblazer small SUV may be 2021’s most unexpected hit, flying off dealer lots faster than any new other vehicle since the pandemic struck. The little SUV spent an average of just 19 days on dealer lots from March through June, a fraction of the 96.9-day industry average for new vehicles and nearly a week less than No. 2, the acclaimed Kia Telluride.  

Yeah, but is it a smart buy? We weigh-in, and it isn’t pretty.

Source: Nada

Flying Cars Are (Kinda) Almost Here!

Are you ready for an automotive/aviation podcasts?  In New Hampshire, Governor Chris Sununu, signed the nation’s first state law regulating flying cars late last month, in a move experts say could serve as a “stepping-stone” towards the technology becoming more widely available.  eVTOLs…  Electric, vertical, Take-Off and Landing vehicles!  More acronyms!  Yay!

Even with the car/planes being a way off…  This legislation is laying the groundwork for the technology to mature.

Source: Smart Cities Drive

Juveniles Arrested for String of Auto Thefts

Peoria Police have arrested several juveniles in connection with a string of vehicle burglaries and thefts in recent weeks. The youths, ranging in age from 10 to 15, allegedly broke into dealerships to obtain keys, then later returned to steal multiple automobiles from two dealerships. The four juveniles, ranging in age from 13 to 15, were arrested for a number of incidents, and currently face charges that include Motor Vehicle Theft, Motor Vehicle Theft Conspiracy, Obstructing Police, Business Burglary, and Possession of Stolen Property over $5000.” We question how such crimes can occur in the year 2020, and why youngsters are being recruited to carry out such acts.  

Source: WBMD Story 1 / WMBD Story 2

This happened.

Every time Elon Musk pokes fun at government assistance for the 99%, remember that he would be worth nothing without $4.9 billion in corporate welfare. Oh, Elon just l-o-v-e-s corporate socialism for himself, rugged capitalism for everyone else. https://t.co/rj8FgwEDMQ pic.twitter.com/bxHcXul925

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) August 7, 2020

1982 Citroën 2CV- Sold for $9,500

Bring a Trailer

This is reportedly one of 300 Márcatelo edition cars built in Spain to commemorate the 1982 FIFA World Cup. Finished in red and white over an orange cloth interior, the car is powered by an air-cooled 602cc flat-twin paired with a four-speed manual transaxle and is said to have been imported to the US in the early 2000s. Features include Márcatelo-specific exterior graphics, a roll-back convertible top, and rectangular headlights. This Citroën 2CV is now offered at no reserve with a clean Florida title. One recently sold for $12k a year or so ago, so maybe this is an opportunity for a good deal.

1979 Porsche 928 – $19,995

Ebay Auction

The Porsche purists still hate these, but that’s all the more reason to appreciate them. Designed as a replacement to the aging 911 platform, the 928 marked Porsche’s first foray into a V-8 powered GT car. It also was one of the most unique styling exercises in the 20th century. This first-generation model features those incredible rotary phone dial rims, brown leather seats (although the checkered cloth interiors look amazing as well), and

all of the creature comforts you’d want. It needs a lot of TLC but it’s a 33,0000-mile original one owner car so that may help. Good examples used to fetch $6K to $8K, but today their values have soared. I still love the lines and think these are twice the car a 911 is. Mostly I blame this on seeing them in such iconic 80’s Chicago films as Risky Business and Weird Science.

As always, thanks for listening!

The post Episode 36 – Western Jaunts, Evil Plots and Elon vs Bernie appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.

We’re glad you’re back for another installment of the auto podcast that values its prep time… or perhaps we’re the auto podcast that needs some Red Bull before the show.  At any rate, we’re still working on the catchphrase. Thanks for catching up with us.

For those who said Episode 32 was a high watermark, we appreciate that. We’ll try to top it with this episode. And the next. And the one after that. In all seriousness we have some exciting guests in the hopper for the next few shows, so be sure to subscribe and follow along. You won’t want to miss what’s coming up.

Eric recaps his latest timed road rally in America’s Dairyland while Daryl talks about routine maintenance and putting off a major wiring harness replacement.

Play along as we road test a new segment that’s s a play on a popular (and juvenile) locker room game where we pick three vehicles and decide which one we’d like to race on the weekends, drive every day, and send to the crusher.

While fireworks were canceled and many venues remained closed for the Fourth of July thanks to COVID-19, some 2,700 interested car folks and approximately 600 cars gathered East Peoria for the season opener of Central Illinois Cars & Coffee. We count our blessings and run down just how big of a draw the local monthly events are for gearheads across Illinois.

BMW toying with a subscription-based service model for vehicle options (Hat tip to friend-of-the-show Ben for sharing this article.)

The fine folks at BMW are proud of their new Tesla-like concept of subscription-based option model. The upside? The vehicle manufacturing and service process is streamlined since there’s only one version of each model, one wiring harness, one computer system, etc. The downside? Consumers get the shaft and the manufacturer controls everything you thought you owned… but don’t actually own.

In news of the tone-deaf…

Ford Motor isn’t worried about new features on its redesigned F-150 pricing people out of the increasingly expensive full-size pickup market, according to the company’s chief operating officer, Jim Farley. “This is content people want and are more than willing to pay for,” he said Friday on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” “People are happy to pay if the product is more productive.” On Thursday evening, Ford unveiled traditional and hybrid versions of the 2021 F-150 pickup. The truck is scheduled to begin arriving in dealerships this fall. An all-electric F-150 is expected sometime in the next two years.

In news of the not-so-tone deaf

We see a glimpse of the new Ford Bronco lineup, and we think it will be incredibly cool! Eric offers a preview into each of the three models and explains the allure of the open-air 4×4. Will other manufacturers step up to the plate and offer their own versions, or will the Jeep Wrangler continue to capture the lion’s share of the market?

The Pekin City Council passed an ordinance to allow golf carts on public streets with certain restrictions. Per the new city ordinance, the owner of a golf cart that wishes to drive it on a public street must register the golf cart with the police department, and then they’re free to roam around town. We’ll recap the other motorized vehicles that can run around town, and explain why this is a good idea… and what the limitations are. 

We’ve been talking about driverless cars for years now, and yet it appears many start-ups such as Rivian are having trouble getting out of first gear. Enter Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, a pile of cash and a company named Zoox.

As reported on the Hustle this week….Amazon’s latest acquisition could shake up the future of driverless cars and trucks. Amazon is snapping up the driverless car maker Zoox for a deal estimated at a cool $1.2B. Zoox has spent the last couple of years working on a robo-taxi. 

.@JeffBezos is a copy haha https://t.co/plR7uupqBG

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 26, 2020

So, there’s that.

Speaking of Tesla…

Eric finishes his quest to learn about the last of the remaining descendants of Nikola Tesla, and finds him.

William Terbo (Trbojevich) was the last living relative of Nikola Tesla and the last living person who actually met the visionary inventor. Did he get a free Model S that bears his family’s name? How about a free t-shirt from Elon? 

Daryl ponders the latest social media recommendations for ceramic coatings for your car. Also, Google is your friend. Most of your Facebook friends aren’t.

Eric grosses everyone out with a tale of a Tesla driver on autopilot using his freed-up hands to do a little manicure job at 75 miles-per-hour along Interstate 74.

1976 450 SEL Benz with the giant 6.9L V8.

Source: Bring A Trailer auction

Current Bid: $15,000 

Robert Loggia and Ewy Rosqvist are to blame for this one. Eric has always been drawn to the big Benz’s, and this one is no exception. With a cream exterior with tobacco leather and that monster engine, this car would eat anything on the open road. Also, everyone needs to re-watch David Lynch’s Lost Highway.

Daryl: 1991 Chevrolet Blazer K5 

$25,900 Buy it Now on eBay

4×4, 350 TBI with a 700R4 and all the options and only 77k miles. These were the Blazers I remember as a kid and into high school. I’d buy this, rustproof and touch up some small things and run it until it dies. 

Until next time, take care and let us know what you think of this show at [email protected]

The post Episode 34 – Copycats, Competition and Ceramic Coatings appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.

Welc0me to the Auto Podcast that …  Needs more time in the saddle!  

Sponsors:  

Fort’s Toyota of Pekin.  www.toyota-pekin.com  

CASEY LAW Office.  www.CLOpeoria.com 

PATREON – If your a top tier Patreon Subscriber, you got a ton of free content with Epiosde 33.  We recorded the Pre and Post show with you in mind!

Thanks for listening.  Shout out to Jason Sach who goes by @64morgan44 on Instagram. Check out his restoration of his vintage Morgan 4/4. Wood work. Metal work. It’s a craftsman’s paradise. 

Projects:  (Where we talk about what’s going on with our cars or projects) 

Eric: 

Daryl:

The Drive Report, Eric’s latest viewing on Amazon Prime

Headlines

TWISM:

He doesn’t know why, but Daryl spent too much time thinking about this FB post from TestDriveJunkie.

1989: If you had to choose one. Chevy Lumina or Ford Taurus? 

Also, Daryl says “No Thanks” to 16 seasons of Fast and Loud with Richard Rawlings” on Motor Trend on-demand.

International News:

Europe Automobile Sales Show Rebound in May

European car sales showed the first signs of a tepid recovery in May as showrooms reopened after a two-month shutdown because of the coronavirus pandemic, according to data from the industry association ACEA.

Passenger vehicle registrations in the European Union, the European Free Trade Association and the UK fell 57 percent. While that is the worst May since ACEA started tracking the data in 1990, it was an improvement over the 78 percent plunge in April.

Lyft Promises to Switch to 100% Electric Vehicles by 2030. 

US and Canadian ride-hailing company Lyft Inc. said Wednesday every vehicle on its ride-hailing and rental car platform will be electric by 2030, but it would not provide direct financial support to drivers for switching from gas-powered cars.

Instead, the company plans to push competitors, lawmakers and automakers to make it easier for drivers to switch to electric vehicles by creating financial incentives, Lyft executives said during a call.

John Zimmer, Lyft’s co-founder and president, said the company has reached a scale to impact policy change.

Lyft, whose vehicle fleet is currently made up of less than 1 percent electric cars, in a statement said it would aggressively promote and help drivers access incentive funds.

“If policymakers do their part in the next few years, EVs should reach cost parity with gasoline vehicles by mid-decade,” the company said.

Environmental activists have called on Lyft and larger rival Uber Technologies Inc. to electrify their fleets. A February study found ride-hail services create around 50 percent more carbon emissions than private car trips.

“Lyft are likely to get hit with regulations pushing them in this direction anyway,” says Colin McKerracher, head of transport analysis at Bloomberg NEF. “So they may just be trying to get out in front of that and announce it on their terms.”

Uber has not made a blanket commitment to electrification, but is partially subsidizing drivers’ electric vehicle purchases in London.

And yet, nobody cares. 

National News:

GM CEO Mary Barra ‘Cautiously Optimistic’ on Coronavirus Recovery, Consumer Demand

General Motors CEO and Chairman Mary Barra is “cautiously optimistic” about consumer demand returning as well as a global economic recovery as businesses continue to reopen following shutdowns due to the coronavirus pandemic. “We’ve been pleasantly surprised how demand has come back,” she said Wednesday morning on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” “We’re cautiously optimistic as we see demand resuming.” Barra said the company is “hopeful that we’ll have a strong recovery” overall but is planning for multiple scenarios “to make sure the company is strong from a business perspective and can weather any outcome.”=

Source: CNBC

Get your dream car now…  Because you might have to settle on your 3rd choice color in July!

At the start of June, new-vehicle inventory levels were down by one-third compared with a year ago. The situation is expected to get worse before it gets better, as automakers struggle to get production consistently up and running. Not all vehicles are affected, but certain segments such as midsize trucks are dwindling rapidly in supply. Although millions of Americans are facing financial hardship, many still need vehicles, and they will be looking for value messaging similar to the 0-percent-for-84-months incentives widely promoted in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Source: Automotive News

Mobile Recall Service

Ed Roberts added his second mobile service van on March 11. It has become an $80,000 tool for picking up recall work at Bozard Ford-Lincoln in St. Augustine, Fla.

When the first one arrived late last year, Roberts expected it to primarily serve the dealership’s fleet customers. But things have tilted toward individual clients, with about half of the orders involving recall work.

Source:  Automotive News

Dodge Challenger Turns 50. Celebrates with Special Edition

https://www.motortrend.com/news/2020-dodge-challenger-commemorative-special-edition/

Several months ago, Dodge debuted a special-edition Challenger coupe celebrating the muscle car’s 50th birthday. The model features special badges, gold wheels, and a plush interior—but only 1,960 cars were allotted for production. Now, Dodge is offering more buyers a chance to get in on the Challenger’s anniversary magic with the 2020 Dodge Challenger 50th Anniversary Commemorative Edition, which features pretty much all of the same upgrades as the previous special edition and none of the pesky production caps. Dodge will build as many as people want.

Local: 

(WEEK.com)

Northwoods Mall transforming parking lot into free drive-in theater

PEORIA (WEEK) — Northwoods Mall is transforming their parking lot into a free, community drive-in theater to present family-friendly movies.

Starting Friday, June 19 and occurring Fridays and Saturdays (weather permitting), cars will be admitted starting at 8 p.m. with the movie beginning at 9 p.m.

The series, ‘Free Cinema Under the Stars,’ will run until July 11.

The movie lineup will begin with Instant Family and conclude with Transformers/Bumblebee.

Moment of Musk:

“Staggeringly dumb.”

That’s the latest insult Elon Musk threw at Nikola Motors (NKLA), which has rocketed a crazy 500%+ since April. Love him or hate him, no one denies Musk is a genius. He built Tesla (TSLA)—easily the world’s most innovative car company—from scratch. When he’s not running Tesla, he works a “side job” as a rocket scientist for his private space company, SpaceX.

The Rabbit hole…

Nikola…  Who is freaking Nikola Motors???… Are there anyone decedents of Tesla getting paid off his naming rights?

BADGERS?  We don’t need no stinking badgers!

Full disclosure… Eric signed up for updated on Starlink internet service.  If you have ever been to his house, you know why!  #1barlifestyle

Touchscreen controls in new car suck, and now an expert verifies our claim!  

In a recent video, Edmunds expert Mark Takahashi posted his take on the worst automotive design trends that are currently being adopted by carmakers. The list involved a number of unsurprising mentions, such as the massive grilles on vehicles from Lexus, BMW, and Genesis, as well as fake vents on the Honda Civic Type R. But within this list, Takahashi also took issue with a trend that is arguably popularized by Tesla—the use of touchscreens.

It may look sleek, but digging through menus to access basic functionality is not.

RIFF ZONE: 

Daryl: Car insurance and car buying service commercials that stress the word “Fair.”

What are you, 5? 

Eric: Do not come into a conversation saying you are known A-hole!  Sick of that mentality!  

Cars of the WEAK!©®

Eric:  2000 MR2 SPYDER

It was a wild and wacky situation… And Eric had a first chance at a classic MR2 that found its way in for trade…  After texting a picture to the wife, she asked why they didn’t own it…  Eric had to tell her that he got weak on the trigger!  Will another opportunity come around???

Daryl: 1954 Studebaker Commander coupe – $5,000

Source: FB Marketplace

Powered by a 169 cubic inch inline 6, and a 3 speed manual, this plain yellow and black coupe is a pure example of a timeless 50’s design from the Raymond Lowey studios. It’s in Springfield, too. Not too far for a weekend road trip filled with blue smoke, roadside breakdowns and a AAA flatbed ride the rest of the way home.

Thanks for all the love…  We have enjoyed the emails lately!

The post Episode 33 – Autocross , Air Compressors and Badgers appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.

Fort’s Toyota of Pekin.  www.toyota-pekin.com

CASEY LAW Office.  CLOpeoria.com

YOU!  You can sponsor too!  Via PATREON you can help us offset those fees that come with running an automotive podcast!  Thank you patreon subscribers!

Loss of a fan and friend, John Deering.  Eric with him and he was a Toyota corporate colleague of Regan’s.  John passed away from complications of COVID 19 after nearly 2 months of fighting.   I know he listened to every show (That Regan was on at least!)  Good dude.  Dad.  Our prayers go out to the family.

GET THE STICKER!!!!

(Where we talk about what’s going on with our cars or projects, secret loves????)

Waxing lessons… Wax on…  Wax off.

Lessons on how to wax a car with my son.

The Chemical Guys…  Stripper…  Clay Bars … Oh mama!  Not only do they sell some amazing products… They have videos to show you how to use them!  Clay bars intimidate you?  Watch the vid!  New sponsor material???

Ewy Roquist stole my heart in the toy aisle at Wal Mart.  Eric is pretty sure that he had a past life that involved a love for a certain Mercedes Benz female rally driver.  From the moment he saw her tribute car in the toy isle of Pekin Wal Mart… He had to find out more about this mysterious Mrs Rosqvist.  At some point… Eric was trying to see if there is anything to this Time Travel thing.  No success yet… But we are not giving up hope!

Watch the promo video from MB that sealed the deal on Eric’s unrequited love for the Swedish speed demon!

Took the Memorial Day weekend to clean and sort all the parts for my 58 Plymouth. What a mess. Turns out I’m missing more interior stuff than I thought, but I have a lot of spare exterior trim pieces. That should offset the cost of other items I’ll need… like seats.

I’m also tracking down parts all over the country, and responding to the old farts who say “you’ll never get that put together.” Watch me.

Other than that, I’m rebuilding more carburetors in my spare time. I just did a Carter BBD with the later stepper motor on it for emissions compliance. Learned a lot there, and having fun. Carbs are magical.

Those dang kids and their burnouts in the B-Dubs parking lot.

Cars & Coffee opener pushed to July 4th.  What time are you setting your alarm clock for?

Midsize Pickups Auto Industry’s New MVPs

Small trucks are the industry darling during the Covid 19 crisis…  Past situations like this have been full size trucks.  We have no idea…  But guess anyway why this is.

New leader at Aston Martin

Tobias Moers who is the chief executive at AMG will not take over the head of Aston Martin.  AMG already supplies a lot to Aston…  Will we see lots more German influence, or a full blown takeover sometime soon?

Headlines that tell a story:

According to CNN:  The nation’s rental car companies are in deep trouble. And that’s another blow for the already struggling auto industry.

During normal times rental car companies account for 10% or more of US new car sales — an estimated 1.7 million to 1.9 million cars purchases last year. But these are not normal times. Far from it.

But rental car companies get two-thirds of their revenue from airport locations. With flying down 94% in April and May, according to data of people passing through TSA checkpoints, there are far fewer people needing to rent cars.

Nissan Posts Biggest Loss in 20 Years, Unveils Turnaround Plan

Nissan, one of the largest suppliers of rental cars in the united states is not taking this downturn very well!

Carlos Ghosn: US ex-Green Beret and son arrested over escape from Japan

Speaking of Nissan… Its been a while since we talked about “Where in the World is Carlos Goshn”.  News about his green beret accomplices getting charged for aiding his escape from Japan bring him back into our spotlight.

Automakers’ Catch-Up Plan? Skip Summer Breaks

American Honda, BMW and Mercedes-Benz have told union workers that they will not be getting their usual summer break.  This is because of all that vacation time they took this spring during the stay at home orders.  Think some grievances will be filed?

Lets add insult to injury…  

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles says it overpaid about 24,000 hourly employees will they were furloughed during the COVID crisis.  We’ll be needing that money back…  So, if you could work Saturday, that’d be great.

In “News of the Obvious”  Electric Car Sales are hurting with the lower gas prices.

May 21, 2020—Cheaper fuel caused by statewide shutdowns during the coronavirus could lead to electric vehicle sales slowing down, reported ABC News.

Better than heated seats?

Ford Motor Co. is rolling out new software for its Police Interceptor Utility vehicles to heat their passenger compartments to temperatures as hot as Death Valley on its warmest day to disinfect the interior against the coronavirus. The technology, Ford said Wednesday, heats the interior above 133 degrees for 15 minutes to kill the virus — figures that showed a quick reduction in the virus’s stability, according to a study by the World Health Organization. It is immediately available for 2013-19 model-year vehicles in the United States, Canada and other countries.

Pandemic doesn’t detour collector car searchers

Just because everyone was cooped up at home in April, it didn’t mean they weren’t shopping for collector cars. Nor, however, did it mean they were shopping for anything out of the ordinary.

Monthly searches on the ClassicCars.com Marketplace website in April showed amazing consistency in both year/make/model and the more general “any year” search categories.

In the year/make/model category, the 1967 Ford Mustang moved up from second to first place as the 1969 Dodge Charger slipped out of first place for the first time in 4 months. The Charger slipped to third, behind the Mustang and the 1967 Chevy Impala, which had been third the previous 2 months.

The top-6 in that listing has shown strong stability in recent months, the ’67 Mustang, ’69 Charger and ’67 Impala joined by the ’69 and ’65 Mustangs and the ’69 Camaro.

Moving up into the top-10 were the ’69 Mustang (8th) and the 1987-93 last-of-the-Fox-Body Mustangs. They replace the ’68 Charger and the ’55 Chevy Bel Air.

“With a plethora of parts and mods available, the Fox Body is becoming an appealing old car purchase,” noted ClassicCars.com Journal managing editor Tom Stahler. “They are becoming very popular with the drifting-set. I have said it many times, that I was never a fan, but every so often I can be wrong.”

Meanwhile, among the top-10 in the all-years category, the April searches nearly mirrored those of the previous month. Chevrolet, Ford, Mustang, Chevy C10, Volkswagen “bus,” and Dodge retained positions 1-6. Corvette moved up to 7th, swapping placed with Cadillac, while Bronco and Pontiac retaining 9th and 10th, respectively.

Source: Journal.ClassicCars.com

Ford Forced to Halt Production at 2 Plants After Employees Test Positive for COVID-19

Just days after reopening its American assembly plants, Ford temporarily shut down two separate factories in Illinois and Michigan because employees tested positive for Covid-19.

Did you see it??  How about a little Jay Leno’s garage on CNBC?

Elon allowed Jay to drive the new Cyber truck in the Boring Companies test tunnel that stretches for 1.1 miles underneath Los Angeles.

The only way to get more musk product placement would have been to lauch them into space with a flamethrowing mounted on the hood!

BTW… If you’ve been following the COVID…  Elon was pro commerce and anti California!

RIFF ZONE:

Daryl: Folks asking ridiculous money for old, used, crappy car parts. My favorite new line “Bought this for my car but decided to go in a different direction.” What direction is that? Forward? Because the used distributor you’re selling on eBay looks like it stopped spinning 24 years ago. Also, if people can buy a new version of the same used part you’re selling for 20% more… you will never sell it. Good luck, boneheads.

Eric:  disgusting cars…  We are reaching new levels of grossness!

Hertz Rent Car…  Deal?  Eric takes his virtual currency of the mind and goes shopping for a Camaro Convertible locally… And then on the Hertz website.  It appears you can save a few grand by using the Hertz portal.  But…  Do you really want a rental car with 30,000 hard fought miles.

After that experiment…  Eric finds a busted up 1997 Porsche Boxster Cabriolet 2D in Springfield on Facebook Marketplace.

1990, manual trans with 130,000.  New struts and brakes.  4250!  Is there any more fight left in this Boxter?  (see what I did there?)

1993 Saab 900S sedan.

Cherry red, 5 speed 16 valve sedan that hearkens back to the glory days of Swedish rallying. This was the last year for the ‘classic’ body style 900 which traced its roots back to the Saab 99 of the 1968. A 2.0 liter 4 cylinder provides plenty of power and the 4 valve head meant it breathed better than the cheaper 900 cars. A turbo swap is just a junkyard away.

This poor Saint Louis area more-door needs an ignition switch and some TLC but the body is clean and these cars have the easiest clutch replacement in the history of modern automobiles.

Source: Facebook Marketplace

Thanks for listening!  Be sure to visit our sponsors and tell them that lunch is on Daryl.

The post Episode 32 – Ewy, Elon and Extradition (Send in the Green Berets) appeared first on Throwin' Wrenches Automotive Podcast.